Ben Stokes is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the county game in recent years and, whisper it quietly, could be that rarest of beasts: a genuine Test all-rounder.

The flame-haired 22-year-old is a powerful middle-order batsman and capable of hitting 90mph with his skiddy seam bowling. His first-class states are impressive with eight centuries already and a bowling average of 27.19.

Stokes was born in New Zealand but moved to north-east England as a child when his father Ged - a rugby league international - came over to pursue his career playing and coaching in the 13-man code.

He was identified by Durham at an early stage and was signed up on a full contract in 2009 at the age of 18, making his first-class debut the following year.

England were also keen and Stokes played at the Under 19 World Cup in 2010, stroking an 87-ball century against India.

Stokes made his ODI and Twenty20 international debuts for England in 2011 but his bowling was hampered by a finger injury and he made little impact with the bat.

The England Lions' tour to Australia in 2012/13 ended with him being sent home - along with room-mate Matt Coles - for repeated disciplinary breaches.

That served as a wake-up call and Stokes refocused, adding some extra pace to his bowling and playing a key man in Durham's County Championship triumph.

He was back in England's one-day squad by the end of the 2013 summer, taking on the role of third seamer and adding some extra length to the batting order.

Chris Woakes was preferred to Stokes when England picked an all-rounder for the final Ashes Test at The Oval but the roles were reversed when it came to the winter tour squad for Australia with Stokes getting his first Test call-up.